The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-21
THOSE CORONADO COWBOYS
How 1t Was that They Freshened Up
Things in a Unique and Funny Way.
After the Dead-Wagon Made It's Call and Re-
moved the Remains That Lay Around Pro-
miscuously Everything Was Lovely.
Dodge City tkau., Letter in New York world.

Wichita county is in blaze of excitement
over the writs for habeas corpus served few
days the Supreme Court at Topeka. to
effect the release of the fourteen citizens of
Coronado confined here and at Garden City for
the killing at their town, on Feb. &c, of certain
obnoxious citizens of Leoti.
The fight was an outcome of politics, some
what seasoned with local beverages. Peiween
Coronado and Leoti the relations had for some
time been severely strained, owing to rivalry
for county seat honors. and thoughtful and far
seeing citizens predicted bad weather ahead un-
less the differences could be adjusted.
The cowboys interest in politics is lively but
narrow. He does not which side has the
best platform. or who the candidates are, or
what they propose doing. All his interest in
campaign is to liven things up, dispense red
paint and surgical maladies, and have red-hot
time with the boys
To freshen up this particular ampaign, two
playful cowboys of Leoti. Mr.. Charley Coulter,
his friend, Mr.. Frank Raines, and FIVE festive
friends. got into the habit of riding over to
Coronado and rounding up the town. To
'round up" town is much funnler than to
paint 1t red, and requires the exercise of more
ingenuity and more lavish flow of spirits.
q
driving of a herd together, the cowboys riding
around the cattle, yelling and cracking whips
until they gather in a mass and the beasts are
docile. Rounding up" in its social sense
means to gather the citizens Of into
similarly frightened bunch and have fun with
them.
Mr. Charley Coulter was the wit of Wichita
county. He had light ard frolicsome revolver
and MS repartee with that facetlous toy was
famous throughout the section. He also
the inventive genius of Leoti, and most of the
celebrated jokes of that cheerful town were the
evolution of Mr.. Coulter's fancy About one
year ago the naughty and exclusive coteries of
Hays City astonished the natives BY getting I'D
a skating -rink. Mr.. Coulter promptly organized
party. They rode over entered the rink horse
back and shot the lights out with reviewers. He
then iutmated to the manager of the rink who
had just come to Kansas, that if the rink was
opened again there would be something besides
the lights shot out. The manager sold out the
following morning at auction and went travelling
for his health. He said there was too much
humor 10 Hays City
Mr.. Coulter then turned his attention to local
politics, and wisely considered that if he and Will
lam Ranes. with half a dozen others, would
ride over to Coronado every other night or so
and either paint red or green, with occasional
roundup by wag of variety. it would throw a
spice into the campaign and relieve the dulness
which had prevailed. This plan put into
effect with excellent results OF enlvenment.
MOI even the most blase man could now COM
Sometimes an evening would be dull, and moth
ing stirring. perhaps only one or two common
place shootnes that day discuss-and the
Knot of eminent citizens would be almost
holding by the saloon fire. for lack of converse
tional material when with whoop Mr. Coulter
would dash through the door, horseback. fol-
lowed by his friends. and infuse activity and
life into the scene which was marvellous.
Again, sometimes when he was least expected,
Mr.. Coulter and his gay party would ride
break neck speed through the town at or 10
O'Clock at night. shooting en- PEASANT through
every window which displayed light, and the
citizen taking his annual bath repeating his
Now lay me" would get sudden and abnormal
ea!ibre-43 apertures in his vitas which were
both surprising and unwelcome; and whereas
the undertaken, who had boiler-iron shutters,
and slept in the back part OF the house. smiled
approvingly on Mr.. Couter's frolics. the insur-
ance companies and the Widows Mutual Ben
eft Association began to complain.
The campaign was now beginning to warm
up, and the press began 10 take a hand. The
editor of the Leoti Standard, powerful Jour
nal devoted to the cause. gave playful account
OF Mr.. Coulter's last red paint exploit in Coro-
rado, and the Coronado Star bristled next day
with the points of an ironical reply. The Stand
ard then paused to pleasantly remark that the
editor OF the Star was a chickenlivered jackass.
who was too fond of shooting of his mouth, and
the latter. without denying that ne was the
anatomical prodigy in question, replied that he
would be quite willing to shoot something else
of If occasion arose. and that the editor of the
Standard was pusillarimous baboon. These
pleasantries naturally led to a further discus
sion of the question, and to the weekly issue of
the two great sheets was attached an unusual
interest
Although not professional journalist Mr.
Coulter bethoueht him it would be funny to give
the Coronado Star an exclusive item of news
One of those things dear TO the heart of an ed
ltor and sometimes called SCOOP" With this
kindly purpose in view, he rode over to Coro-
nado In company with Raines and mutual
dlSmOunteH al he Mar off and in
| CURED If Mr. Sykes, the editor, was in. Mr..
SYKES was In. An urbane minion led the way
to Mr. Sykess sanctum. Mr.. Sykes was just
writing powerful leader on THE Progress of
| Civilization in Kansas when his visitors en-
| tered. In half minute he glanced up and
found himself looking down the barrel of Mr..
Coulters revolver with one eye and the barrel of
Mr Ralness revolver with the other. The
| muzzes look ed to be the size of barrel
| and away at the other end CT each Mr.. Sykes
could see that the bullets were holding a caucus
trying TO make up their minds where they
would hit him. Mr. Coulter courteously re-
| quested him to stand up. He stood. Mr.
| Ralnes requested him to throw up his hands. He
| threw them up. He would have thrown up his
| commission. his breakfast or his immortal
soul on the same invitation. Then the
mutual friend drew ont that variety of ticker
known as '.black snake" and proceeded to
warm tn editorial legs. stimulate the editorial
spine ard generally tickle the editorial anatomy
from cad to foot Then, when weary of Mr..
Sykes IS capers under this treatment, Mr. Conf
ter q nd his friends departed, leaving him to the
enl syment of his exclusive news and to write up
tn long desired scoop on his envious contempt
aries.
Five days after this little episode came the
last burst of Mr.. Coulters hulnor, in which, un-
| fortunately. his brilliant and useful career was
brought to a close. On Sunday morning, Feb.
rs. Mr.. Ranes and friend named johnson rode
over and informed certain influential citizens OF
Coronado that they would pay them a social
call later in the day, and would subsequently
round up" the town. Being gentlemen OF
honor they returned in the afternoon. and Mr.:
Coulter, as usual, was leading the german Or
rather. the Texan. AS novelty they drove
over from Leoti to Coronado in n spring wagon
The party was composed of Messrs. Coulter
| Raines and johnson, Frank Jones' George Wat
kins, A. II. Rooney and Emmett Denning. They
brought with them case of beer, and had sam
Piled it literally en- route.
Arriving in Coronado they first visited tn,
drug store of Mr.. Schiling, who was sick ani
in bed, and made a unanimous request that h,
arise and dance for them. Mr. Schling was no
in terpschorean humor, but he complied, ant
as he danced they kept his spirits by shooting
holes in the floor and seeing how close they coui,
come without pairing his toes.
Wearying of this, they went to DR.. Wright
drug store and set up free beer for every either
of Coronado who happened along. If the citizel
did not happen to be thirsty he was urged b,
Mr.. Coulter to become so, and the party grew
more frolicsome and merry every minute. Abou
NJ 4 yynS haf 20 bav apt